The government's affordable rent scheme will see housing associations and councils offer rented homes to social tenants at a maximum of 80% of market rent. Accompanying changes to the way tenancies are offered will allow housing providers to offer more flexible leases, some as short as two years.

Last week, our live discussion on the topic raised more questions than our panel could answer. @DawnIrvine from Guinness South homes sought advice about how to reassure residents who see affordable rents as unfair. While @typoman asked if affordable rents would make it harder for low income families in London to get housing if they didn't fit into the very poor household bracket.

Some contributors thought the changes could represent good value for tenants, including lawyer Steven Wood who said: "It's currently envisaged that the 80% affordable rent (AR) ceiling will be inclusive of service charges. Given that the rent is not rebased until a new or reissued tenancy is granted, and in a climate of rapidly rising utility bills, over the length of the fixed term it is conceivable that AR tenants could be better off than those who pay rent plus a variable service charge."

But concerns remain about access to homes under the scheme, the sustainability of charging 80% of market rent - especially in London - and the creation of a two tiered system of poor quality council housing and nicer affordable rent homes. What do you think?

Yes, charging 80% rent will work across most of the country and help housing providers to sustain their stock

No, in areas where market rent is high affordable rent just won’t work, it will price people out and create more struggling families